The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-03-11
OUR GAS WORKS.
Annual Report of superintendent w. G.
Adams.

Adams.
Through the courtesy Of Mr.. w. c.
Adams, Superintendent Of the City Gas
Works, the annual report for 1886 is re-
ceived. 1t contains a full and explicit
statement of the workings of that i'm
portant municipal department for the
past year, with tables annexed.
Ii also notes all the improvements made
during that period, and gives every detail
necessary TO a complete understanding of
the condition of the light department.
Attention is called to the following
recommendations Of the Superintendent ::
81 would respectfully renew the recon-
mendstion, made by my predecessor in
his last annual report, of the urgent ne
cessity Of erecting holder in the west
end OF the city. Our output Of gas for
the past two winters has been far in ex-
cess of our holding capacity. Should an
accident occur whereby we would have to
stop the works for several hours, the city
would be without gas, as our present
storage capacity is inadequate fer the
demand. | would also call your atten-
tiOn to the increase in the consumption
of gas in the public buildings Of the city,
and would respectfully suggest that you
recommend TO the Council that each de-
partment be required to pay out of their
annual appropriation for the amount of
gas consumed in their respective build
ings
/ have informed the Committee on
Light that it will be necessary to increase
the generating capacity of these works at
an early day as the past winter has clear
ly demonstrated that we cannot, with
safety run through another year without
increased facilities for manufacturing.
The committee, | presume, will, at an
early day, report to the Council to what
extent they propose to enlarge and the
cost of same.
Then follows table showing the make
of gas from 1871 to 1886 with years in
cluded.
The report concludes as follows
You will perceive by the above table !
that the consumption of gas is rapidly on
the increase, and shows the importance
of enlarging the generating capacity of |
the works.
/ would state that the freshet of April |
1st put out our fires in the retort house |
at 8 o'clock pm and continued to rise |
until it reached the bottom of the middle !
retOrts. The works were under water
until the morning of the third, at which |
time we were again able to resume work |
This and several other causes have, to |
some extent, augmented the current ex-
penses for the year
In conclusion, would state that the
officers and employees have discharged |
their various duties to my entire satisfac- |
ton. All of which is respectfully sub
mitted."
The condition of the works is excellent, !
and the first annual report of the new |
superintendent is not only able, exhaust
i've, and well compiled, but it is very
important contribution to our municipal |
reports for the past year.
THE COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS.
The very efficient Committe on Light
are Messrs. Robert W. Powers, Chair
man; John w. Otley, Richard H. Davis,
Jackson Guy, John X. Molloy, John H.
Conner, Charles Kaufelt.
The officers are William G.. Adams.
superintendent; Thomas j. Walsh, Fore
man and Clerk; Shirley King, Foreman
Upper Works; Thomas NJ Saunders, In
spector; William p Knowles, Henry G.
Miller, Joseph f. Batkins, j. X. l..
Masurier, William W. Wood, Charles F.
Assistants; Joseph c. Shelton,
Bill Clerk; d. A. Langhorne, Book
keeper.